K.K. Senthil Kumar Interview | Cinematographer - Baahubali, Eega, RRR | Through The Lens

Through The Lens, supported by ARRI, is a celebration of the art and craft of cinematography, featuring in-depth conversations with some of India's most talented and respected cinematographers. In our third episode, Cinematographer K.K. Senthil Kumar talks about the experience of working with S.S Rajamouli on all his films, and how tough or smooth he finds it to create his vision through the camera. He delves deep into the making of the Nani and Samantha Prabhu starrer ‘Eega,’ calling it the most challenging film he has worked on, and then further breaks down the Ram Charan introduction sequence from RRR, and the magnanimous interval sequence of the same.
This video is in a collaboration with @ARRIChannel
ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film, broadcast, media, and entertainment industries, with a worldwide distribution and service network.
This episode was shot on 11th October, 2023
00:00 - Through The Lens of K.K. Senthil Kumar
00:59 - Five Questions about K K Senthil’s craft
01:10 - K. K. Senthil's take: Cinematography should be invisible
03:18 - Working with S.S. Rajamouli for more than 20 years
05:21 - The danger of becoming too comfortable with one director
07:48 - Shooting the Rajamouli hero introduction sequences
09:45 - Has K. K. Senthil ever used the word “impossible” in front of Rajamouli
12:53 - Moving from celluloid to digital, and the "craftlessness” it brought
15:21 - How is digital taking cinema to the next level?
16:57 - Falling in love with Light
21:00 - Breaking down the RRR interval sequence
31:35 - Breaking down the Eega climax
39:23 - Breaking down the Baahubali and Katappa fight scene
45:45 - Breaking down Ram Charan’s introductory scene from RRR
55:35 - Three recommendations/art that inspires K. K. Senthil
1:00:20 - Two tips to new and practicing DOPs
1:05:18 - A life motto K K Senthil lives by
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The Film Companion is a web channel intended to promote Indian cinema through films review, interviews, discussions, video essays, and analytical compilations. It is intended primarily for the purpose of encouraging informed discussions, criticism, and review of cinema and towards such purpose, the programs use short extracts of cinematograph films, sound recording, and photographic works. These clips and extracts are of a minimal nature and the use is not intended to interfere in any manner with their commercial exploitation of the complete work by the owners of the copyright. The use of works is in compliance with the fair dealing exception provided under Sec. 52 of the Copyright Act, and we assert our use of the works under the exception provided for criticism and review.

[@SandeepKumar-bt1fe]

Unpopular opinion. Eega is any day better than Ant Man Trilogy

[@prachuryyabaruah7]

why to compare.

[@saibalu5224]

senthil kumar's cinematography is a KIND OF A THING

[@050138]

Underrated comment!

[@greatavielite]

🤣🤣

[@amusingwordplay7298]

​@@050138also, copied.

[@fellawhofilms7760]

great "kind of a thing" interview

[@vamsimadhur9329]

I was searching for this 'kind of a thing' comment to see if any other also noticed the same 'kind of a thing' :)

[@ABHlSHEK]

his wife passed away recently. hope he stays strong

[@Sahumerchant]

So sad to know. More strength to him..

[@TheDebattam]

OM Shanti.

[@adityavarma2614]

Ohh I don't know, sorry and sad to hear

[@ShivamSharma-rr6tr]

Ohh so sad . Om shanti .

[@imchaooon]

How brother

[@ankitlad25]

K K Senthil Kumar is a "great kind of a thing" cinematographer. Amazing mind, humble soul❤

[@talkingreels2937]

please continue this category ( all crafts )

[@FilmCompanion]

We'll try our best! :)

[@meenakshichatterjee224]

@@FilmCompanion Love this series. Please bring Santosh Sivan.

[@Srjramesh]

​@@meenakshichatterjee224off course and also with PC sreeram

[@nani8931]

Please bring RRR song Natu Natu choreographer

[@nishantpradhan7828]

I've had the privilege of working with Senthil Sir. I learned so much being around him. He's one of most humble people I've come across not just in this industry but in life. The man is a treasure and he deserves all the recognition.

[@shalivahnshalin3744]

Which movie?

[@nishantpradhan7828]

@@shalivahnshalin3744 Bahubali part 1 :D

[@edutainmemes4356]

Bhai odisha se ho kya ?

[@nishantpradhan7828]

@@edutainmemes4356 Nahi bro

[@Spirit365]

Nice

[@nikhee8]

This is what I missed from film companion... Finally

[@Rocky-zf5tp]

My favourites are Eega and Ram’s Intro

[@TheDebattam]

This is one of the best segments of Film Companion. Thank you.

[@shalivahnshalin3744]

Senthil brother. I deeply condolences to you . Your wife passed away. Recently . From vipasana meditation.... Suresh

[@dindiramamohanarao7344]

Very humble and talented person. Thank you for doing this type of interview.

[@Nikhitable]

He is undoubtedly a great cinematographer ...My own brother (had passed away suddenly on 4th Oct 2022) was an associate editor for Aithe movie and still remember back then appreciating a lot about the Cinematogrophy and his nature. My brother looked 80% exactly like Senthil sir and very sorry to know that his wife had passed away recently . I wish Rajamouli sir continues to associate with this ace technician since we hear that now the next project is with other cameraman . May he finds peace,happiness and solace in the journey of life .

[@gokuturkey]

Great series! thank you film companion!

[@sarmamadhavan]

"Eega" is the favourite movie of mine from SSR's filmography 🥰

[@malharjoshi6737]

Thank you so much for bringing him !!! and thank you so much sir for lessons 😊

[@tyagarajakinkara]

For the people who are unaware of Telugu cinema, senthil did brilliant work in Aithe and Mohankrishna indraganti film golkonda public school.,

[@barcazee8798]

amrutham serial

[@gokulvijay4142]

This is such a good initiative where you invite these pioneers in the field of cinema. Please continue this.

[@shubh3233]

You are a legedary cinematographer 👍🏼🙏

[@NITS1307]

Great interview! Also we need more interviews with artists like Ravi Varman, PC Sreeram and Ravi K Chandran

[@Name260812]

This backdrop of the setting is really nice for a Film personality interview.

[@Prasad_Kasture]

Respect for K.K. Senthil Garu ❤❤❤❤

[@abhiramkesireddy9094]

Fav cinematographer

[@MultiShaheen]

You sir, are one of a KIND OF A THING 🫡

[@sadboy_972]

Need more interviews of technicians from various departments of film making.

[@lomptv8782]

love this

[@Vikas_Vicky_0606]

Do this kind of series with directors

[@prachuryyabaruah7]

There is nothing like perfection. Just make the best of what you have❣️🔥

[@ExplorewithElora]

Amazing words

[@chvishnu619]

Drinking game: take a shot every time senthil said "kind of a thing"

[@rajshekar9363]

Not sure how much of it the interviewer understood 😂😂

[@mnsubramanyam]

Nice personality

[@Vijay78912p]

Great cinematographer

[@nikhileswar_r]

If producers don't get dates of Vijay Sethupathi for the 96 sequel, please cast Sethil as Ram. He looks very similar, seems to be a simple guy and he likes to shoot with a camera. What more do we want?

[@NaseebNaseebPT]

❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@arindambharali531]

🧡

[@arjunbunny7734]

Pls do this kind of a things

[@user-nd4xl8sp3n]

Eega deserves Oscar Which is 1000% better than RRR

[@tyagarajakinkara]

He is an asset to the filmography of the great Rajamouli❤

[@youtubeuser830]

try to get interview with ratnavelu sir

[@rizan_17]

When is Santosh SIvan coming then?

[@adirajcamera79]

Why don't you make a Conversation with RAVI VARMAN ??

[@hamizkhawaja4394]

Binod pradhan should be the next one for sure!

[@saikalyankonduri3315]

For me , "aithe" is still his best work..

[@dheeraj009.1]

Underrated movie and underrated director legend chandrashekhar yeleti

[@satishkumarkandala]

Beauty of a Hyderabadi upbringing A tamilian born and brought up in HYD speaking flawless Hindi and English seamlessly And no Dravidistic bullshittt

[@secaccnt9931]

He married a muslim woman so doubt he's a brahmin cocksucking sanghi either

[@amusingwordplay7298]

​@@secaccnt9931well said.

[@nandanksnandanks4185]

What happened to rajamouli interview?

[@priyabratapradhan7635]

I believe eega is the best work of Rajamouli sir!

[@geejygeorge8326]

The lighting on this set could have been better..

[@xfrtej8766]

Can you do interview with madhie also in coming days

[@naninani1549]

Where is the Rajamouli documentary?

[@akfilms8627]

You guys doing great job @filmcompanion

[@FilmCompanion]

Glad you like it here! :)

[@SumanSingh-yt3qj]

It's a sad state of affairs to hear imminent DPs talk about digital photography as better than Film, it sets a wrong precedent for aspiring DPs...

[@kriz2281]

Why SSR replaced him from samb 29 ?

[@BAditya3]

He didn't replace Senthil ..senthil himself asked for a break as he faced personal tragedy recently ...His wife died bcoz of some health issues just 2 months ago.

[@TheEnglishuser]

Sethupathi only I see 😊

[@vivekdoshi6639]

What the problem with the host is She tries to go in the psychological mind process the creative is going through but fails miserably. I think Mayank Shekhar is really capable of making friendship with guest and his research helps him to emphasize with guest

[@generalawarenesswithrk9303]

Need Avane Srimannarayana filmmaking video

[@sevant02]

🎉🎉😂

[@reagan4211]

The vfx shots in every Indian movies are terrible

[@chvishnu619]

Sare

[@wemakemovies_theatre]

Just go and watch Hanuman what the director and the team have achieved with a limited budget. Terrific 👌🏼

[@ShivamSharma-rr6tr]

It will improve bro , just wait for few years . Our market is growing and it will reach a point where producers will pour in money for better VFX .

[@dheeraj009.1]

😂cool kid rrr recieved oscar

[@RexL169]

then stop watching

[@Akash-sk7cc]

One of the legendary cinematographer

[@tyagarajakinkara]

You shot the series with the legendary ss Rajamouli? Where is the episode?

[@excelthegyan5484]

He is the most under rated in Rajamouli's films. He deserve more recognition

[@latestmoviesandflixz5456]

Its sad that he is not collaborating with SSR on his most ambitious project with Mahesh Babu But also heard that he will be directing his own venture. All the best wishes to him

[@koushikvemuri3130]

Really? I didn’t know this

[@dheeraj009.1]

​@@koushikvemuri3130true he is directing a movie

[@telugufactsandmore2602]

​@dheeraj009.1 telugu language..?

[@dheeraj009.1]

@@telugufactsandmore2602 i think so

[@dheeraj009.1]

@@koushikvemuri3130 i think so